Approximately 99% of the plastics used in the packaging industry today are petroleum-based. However, the adoption of biobased plastics could help to greatly reduce the environmental footprint of packaging materials and help to conserve our non-renewable petroleum resources. This tutorial review provides an overview of renewable polyesters and their potential packaging materials.

Conventionally, low-surface-tension fluorinated reagents are incorporated into anti-smudge (oil- and water-repellent) coatings for oil repellency. However, fluorinated compounds are expensive and an environmental concern because of their high stability and bioaccumulation. These factors limit their widespread application. We report herein the development of fluorine-free anti-smudge polyurethane coatings that are clear at thicknesses up to tens of micrometers and are able to sustain extensive surface damage. We demonstrate that these coatings can be applied readily onto a diverse range of substrates.

Clear anti-smudge coatings with a thickness of up to tens of micrometers have been prepared through a graft-copolymer-based approach from commercial precursors. The coatings repel water, diiodomethane, hexadecane, ink, and an artificial fingerprint liquid. In addition, they can be readily applied onto different substrates using different coating methods. These coatings could find applications in protecting hand-held electronic devices from fingerprints, windows from stains, and buildings from graffiti.

PurposeInnovation is the basic input to organizational endurance; therefore, the study of processes that support innovation should be of interest to practitioners and researchers alike. Consequently, there is increasing attention for the supplementary research examination of the influencing elements of innovativeness.Design/methodology/approachThe data were collected in 2018 using adapted questionnaires that were tested. The respondents were 446 employees of Pakistan Electric Power Company (PEPCO). Bivariate correlations and hierarchical regression were used for the data analysis.FindingsThe findings showed that the competing value framework (CVF) model of organizational culture may promote innovativeness that translates to the progress of PEPCO, which deserved barrier for everyone relying on the values made by the culture of the organization. The adhocracy culture is considered to be statistically suitable for the prediction of performance and enhancement of innovation in the organization. Based on the above findings, it may be deduced that innovation mediated the relationship between some particular types of organizational culture and performance.Practical implicationsThe CVF model provides a supportive framework for the development of procedures that promote innovation in the organization. The focus of the CVF model highlighted employees' behavior and function of organizational culture, which can restrain or stimulate performance. This study reported and developed a basis for an empirical model based on the CVF model.Originality/valueThis paper found that the CVF model and innovation are mega sources of innovation at PEPCO. This work should be of interest in the area of innovation and performance improvement. There are very few empirical research studies on the relationship between organizational culture, innovation and performance, specifically in the context of developing countries. This is one of the very few studies conducted to empirically examine the influence of CVF model on performance through the mediating role of innovation in PEPCO.

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